Monthly Archives: June 2008

Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation. As long as homeowner associations have been in existence, there have been problems with them. In the beginning the “solution” was largely believed to be educating homeowners about HOAs. “If people understood what they were buying into they’d all fall in line and comply with the contract they signed”. When that didn’t fix the problem, the association industry lobbied successfully for state laws increasing the role and powers of associations in our every day lives. Predictably this exacerbated the problems to the point where homeowners began fighting back. In some states, a few homeowners have successfully managed to get some homeowner friendly bills introduced and passed. However, if there are any loopholes they will be found, manipulated or misinterpreted to benefit the association. Perhaps the time has come to put a stop to the games associations, their industry and advisors play. It is time to plug up some of those loopholes.On The Commons this week we are joined by Clint Goodman. Clint is president and the founding attorney of an Arizona based organization called the Homeowner Institute. The Homeowner Institute specializes in promoting the interests of the owners in a number of ways, including lobbying for legislation that closes loopholes and protects individual and property rights. Please join us On The Commons this Saturday, June 28, 2008. We’ll talk about the Homeowner Institute, what it does and why Clint founded it. We’ll also learn a little about the Office of Administrative Hearing (OAH) and how SB 1162 will plug a whacking great big loophole that associations and their attorneys have been using to skirt the original intent of the OAH. To learn more about the Homeowner Institute check out their web page http://www.hoainstitute.com.

Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation.

Three years ago the nation was shocked by the US Supreme Court decision in the Kelo v New London case. In this decision the Supremes said it was OK for the government to take private property from one person and turn it over to another for their private gain. Property owners, small business owners, citizens and the media were outraged. A few politicians made the appropriate tsk tsks and some even proposed legislation that would strengthen individual property rights and protect them from the greedy grasp of government gone amok. However, as time went by, our anger subsided and eventually the words “eminent domain” and “Kelo” faded into the recesses of the past. Well, it is time to put Kelo center stage again and to remind ourselves that we are ultimately responsible for protecting what is rightfully ours. On The Commons this week we will be going back to the past and remembering what it is like to be on the verge of losing our homes. Please join us On The Commons this Saturday, June 21, 2008. We’ll talk a little bit about the what is being done to commemorate the anniversary of that horrible decision and hear from both Susette Kelo and Michael Cristofaro. The Institute for Justice, the organization that defended Susette, Mike and a whole host of other homeowners, says 10,000 American property owners were either threatened by, or actually lost their homes to eminent domain. To mark the occasion, they would like to have 10,000 contributions. They don’t have to be large, but every penny raised here will go towards fighting the abuses of eminent domain. To make your pledge go to IJ.org and just sign up.